The Voyage of Pierre Angibaut

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Captain in i^e $k&vinz of
I TStto ffv&ntt* matot to tlje
I Coas* of iWAUse,

tons.

Si des pilotes vieux le renom dure encore,

Pour avoir sceu voguer sur vne e^roite mer,

Si le monde a present daigne encore estimer

Ariomene, avec Palinure & Pelore :

C'est raison ( Champ-dore ) que notre age t'honore,

Qui scais par ta vertu te faire renommer,

Quand ta dexterite empeche d'abimer

La nef qui va souz toy du Ponant a l'Aurore.

Ceux-la du grand Neptune oncques la majeste.

Ne virent, ni le fond du son puissant Empire :

Mais dessus l'Ocean journellement porte

Tu fais voir aux Fracois des pais tout nouveaux,

Afin que l'a vn iour maint peuple se retire

Faisant les flots gemir souz ses ailez vaisseaux.

By B. F. De COSTA.

ALBANY :
JOEL MUNSELL'S SONS
1891.

[Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for April, 1891.]

David Clapp & Son, Printers, Boston.

CHAMPDORE IN NEW ENGLAND, 1608.

Pierre Angibaut, called "Champdore," has hitherto been
known simply as a pilot in the service of De Mont, and not as
an actual leader of an independent expedition. Nevertheless, in
1608, Champlain's former associate brought out a company of colo-
nists to New France, and sailed down the Maine coast a3 far as
Saco. This expedition has escaped treatment, for the reason that
the statements concerning it have appeared confused, if not con-
tradictory. It has been taken for granted, that the efforts of the
French, after the desertion of Port Royal, in 1607, were suspended
until 1610. This, however, will appear to be a mistake, as
Lescarbot, in his edition of 1609, gives an account of an expedition
that evidently went out in 1608. It is true that, in the autumn of
that year, the Jesuit father, Biard, went to Bordeaux for the purpose
of joining an expedition which he understood was to have been
fitted out by Poutrincourt, but upon his arrival he could learn
nothing about it. Poutrincourt had indeed promised the King to
undertake the work again that year, yet he made no movement until
1610. In the meanwhile, however, an expedition was sent by De
Mont, who had secured a grant giving him the monopoly of the fur
trade for one year. Biard probably knew nothing of this expedition,
though he understood that a movement was in progress. Besides,
the members of his Order were not wanted in the colony, and it was
not until 1611 that Biard succeeded in getting out to Port Royal,
notwithstanding the influence of the King and Queen was thrown
in his favor.* From our general knowledge of the subject, it might
be concluded that De Mont allowed the Jesuits to suppose that the
expedition was to leave Bordeaux at the end of 1608, in order to be
well rid of them, while at the time arranging to sail from St. Malo.

* On this question, see Relations des Jisuites, Vol. I. p. 25; Shea's " Charlevoix," Vol.
I. p. 260; and Parkman's "Pioneers," Chapters V. and VI. The Huguenots fought the
Jesuits to the last.

The same year, under the same monopoly, De Mont sent Cham-
plain with two vessels to Canada. It is possible that the expedition
of Champdore was authorized in consideration of receiving a portion
of the profits.

But, before speaking of the voyage, it will be necessary to state
what is known concerning Pierre Angibout, as in the future he must
take rank with the worthies, who, amidst perils and privations,
labored to achieve the conquest of the wilderness of New England.

In Champlain's narrative, Champdore is traduced and denied his
proper place, owing clearly to the jealousy excited by his merits.
Champlain says that he was a good carpenter ; but he must have
been something more, in order to hold his place as pilot and navigator
for a period of three years, and to be entrusted with an independent
expedition in the fourth. Champlain, perhaps, felt that his appoint-
ment, after a long trial, to this responsible post, formed a sarcasm
upon his attempts to cheapen Champdore's merits, and he does not
allude either to his appointment or his voyage. Lescarbot, however,
recognizes Champdore's services, also addressing a sonnet to him,
as Pierre Angibaut dit Champ-dore Capitaine de Marine en la
Nouvelle France.*

In describing the buildings at St. Croix, Lescarbot speaks of the
abodes of " Sires d'Orville, Chaplain, Champdore, and other
notable personages." Again, in speaking of those whom De Mont
left behind at Port Royal to pass the winter of 1605-6, he mentions
Monsieur Champlain and Monsieur Champdore, the one for
geography and the other for the conducting and guiding the
voyages. |

The position of Champdore while attached to the colony was
clearly defined ; and though at times the geographer was obliged to
recognize the pilot's capacity, he nevertheless seeks every occasion
to detract from his merit, and to set down every disaster to his credit.
At the instance of Poutrincourt, Champdore was on one occasion
placed under arrest, having been charged with the wilful destruction
of the shallop, which, in 1606, unfortunately struck upon the rocks
at Port Royal, though they were glad to release him and secure the
benefit of his skill. %

Champlain vents his spleen in paragraphs like this : " We came
near being wrecked on a rocky islet, on account of Champdore's
usual obstinacy."

Lescarbot was probably indebted to Champdore for portions of
the material used in describing the voyages of 1604, '5 and '6, as he
did not go in person further south than Grand Menan. On more
than one occasion he refers to Champdore as an informant.

The voyage of Champdore is mentioned in three editions of Les-

* Les Muses de la Nouvelle France, p. 42.

t Tlistoire de la Nouvelle France, Ed. 1612, p. 476. Ibid. Ed. 1609.

+ Champlain's "CEuvres," Ed. Quebec, Vol. I. pp. 84-85.

carbot's N'ouvelle France, though the edition of 1609 forms the
real authority.* The succeeding editions omit that part of the
narrrative found in chapter iv. of the edition of 1609, evidently to
avoid going over the same subject twice. The portion omitted in
the two succeeding editions is very interesting.

Lescarbot says, first, that the colonists, returning to France in the
autumn of 1607, brought samples of the products of the country,
such as corn, wheat, rye and barley, and presented them to the
King. Poutrincourt, as a special offering, presented some tame
"Outards," or geese, which he had "taken from the shell." They
I pleased the King, and were at once domiciled in the beautiful ponds
of Fontainbleu. The reports made appear to have encouraged his
Majesty ; and Lescarbot is correct in saying that at this time, "upon
a fair exhibition of the fruits of the said country, the King confirmed
to Monsieur De Mont the privilege for the trade in beavers with the
savages, "f and that this, in connection with the general encourage-
ment which the prospect afforded, led to the attempt in 1608.
Lescarbot states that the King acted with direct reference to the estab-
lishment of colonies, and, writing in 1609, says : "By this occasion
he [De Mont] sent thither in March last families to begin the Chris-
tian and French Commonwealth there, which God grant to bless in
increase."

The statement that "families" were sent out is very significant,
showing that the French saw distinctly the true policy to be pur-
sued, and that they entertained the project of permanent homes.
Of the experience of these "families" we, at present, have no
particular knowledge. Nevertheless a glimpse is given of the con-
dition of Acadia after the terrible winter which had frozen the spirits
of Popham's men, but which the French happily escaped. They
found the grain which had been sown the previous year in a flour-
ishing condition, and the faithful old savage, Membertou, with his
dusky followers, ready to extend a cordial welcome. It is not clear,
I however, that Champdore and his colonists remained in New France
1 during the winter of 1608-9. Perhaps the account of the severity
of the previous winter dampened their ardor and hastened their re-
turn, notwithstanding they had brought out what are called
"families."

* The Edition of 1612 (p. 4.59) mentions the voyage and the exploration of the St. John's
River. In the heading of L. IV. C. xix. (p. 603) is the following : Voyage en la Nouvelle
France, depuis le retour du dit Sieur Poutrincourt. In dropping the part of the narrative to
which this refers, Lescarbot forgot to erase this reference to it. The edition of 1618 possesses
the same features, though C. iv. takes the place of C. xix. The first edition of Lescarbot's
work was published in 1609. Editions followed in 1611, 1612 and 1618. Le Long refers to
an edition of 1617. See Biblioth'eque Historique, Vol. III. No. 39,654. A letter attributed
to Lescarbot by M. Gabriel Marcel, of the geographical section of the Bibliotheque Na-
tional, Paris, has been published by that writer, with notes. Paris, 1885. It was written
at Port Royal, Aug. 22, 1606, and is of interest. Lescarbot was born about the year
1565-70, and died about 1630.

t It is clear that the privilege, which was for one year only, had no special application
to the territory ceded to Poutrincourt. The Patent to Dc Mont covered all of New France.
See Patent in Champlain's (Euvres, Vol. I. p. 136.

Lescarbot mentiona Champdort's return, and says :

OhlmnLS,a-d Sh!P' lei°g r/turned> we ha™ had report by Monsieur de
Champdore and others, of the condition of the country we had left, and

had 1 i ?*; rfU' Ke^ty °f the COrn that the said M°Dsi^ ^ Pontrincoun

h7 H7Z if- h's,deParture' tether with the grains that have fallen in

sevefhlrl"^ ™ rW" "P^Wy- Memberton gathered six or

seven barrels of the corn that we had sown, and still had one left, which

he hX?t *e FreDCh uWh,°m he eXPeCted- WheQ il w barged that

elhZ ■ T- °"r P'geef.^'eh we had left there, he fell to weeping, and

bW^ll/T t" K ^'m' Said jt WaS the Macharoa' t^t is, the great
birds ca led Eagles, which eat many of them while we were there. Betides

whifh I . T 1 mqmr. T We were' namiuS each »y his own name,
which is a proof of great love."

.u ?n °ther Points Lescarbot gives interesting information, and says
that Champdore extended his observation as far as Saco, or
Chouakouet." He also visited the Saint John River. He says :
« This river is one of the fairest that may be seen, having many islands
and abounding in fish. This last year, 1608, the said Monsieur de Champ-
dore, with one of the said De Mont's men, has been some fifty leagues up
the said river, and testify that there is a great quantity of vines alone the
shore, though the grapes are not so large as in the country of Armou-
chiquois. I here are also onions and many other good herbs. As regards
the trees, they are the finest to be seen. When we were there we saw a
great number of cedar trees. In regard to the fish Champdore" has told us,
that, putting the kettle over the fire, they had taken fish enough for dinner
before the water was hot. Besides, this river, stretching as it does far
within the land of the savages, greatly shortens the long journeys."

The modern tourist who ascends this stream will justify Champ-
dorr's praise.

i Champdore then descended the river, and sailed southward, visit-
ing for the fourth time the wild coast of Maine. Lescarbot writes :
" The said Champdore went as far as Chouakouet, the beginning of the
Armouchiquois land, where he reconciled that tribe with the Etechemins,
which was not done without solemnity. For as he began to speak of it the
captive, named Asticou, who is now in the place of Olmechin,* a grave man
of goodly presence, howsoever savage he may be, demanded that some one
of the Etechenims should be sent to him, and that he would treat with him.
Oagimout, Sagamore of the St. Croix River, was selected for that purpose,
though he would not trust them; but under the safe conduct of the French,
he went thither. Some presents were made to Asticou, who, upon the
speech of peace, began to exhort his people and to show them the reasons
which should induce them to listen to it. Whereupon they agreed, making
an assent to each article proposed to them. Some five yearsf ago Monsieur*
de Mont had also arranged a peace between those people, and declared
unto them that he would be the enemy to the first one that should com-
mence war, and would pursue him. But after his return into France they

*.Ti15 aPPe,_ars t0 be an error- Asticou was a Penobscot chief, and appears to bave suc-
ceeded Bashaba.

t He should have said three years, as the peace referred to was made in 1606. It was a
poor peace at the best. See Champlain, Vol. I. p. 93, and Lescarbot, Ed. 1612, p. 560.
For the names of various chiefs, see Champlain, Vol. I. p. 126.

mid not maintain the peace. And the Armouchiquois killed a Sourequois

ivage named Panoniac, who. went to them in order to trade in merchan-

se, which he obtained at the store house of the said de Mont. The war

*>ve mentioned broke out on account of this murder, under the leadership

Sagamore Membertou ; the said war was carried on in the same place

»w mentioned where Monsieur de Champdore treated the peace in this

ar. Monsieur Champlain is in another place, that is, in the great River

Canada, near the place where Captain Jaques Cartier wintered, where

has fortified himself."

In closing, Lescarbot says :

" As regards Monsieur de Poutrincourt, his desire is unchangeable to
Ionize and build up his Province, to bring thither his family, and all kinds
trades necessary for the existence of man ; which, with God's help, he
11 continue to do, throughout the present year, 1609 ;* and as long as he
s health and strength, will prosecute the same, to live there under the
ing's obedience."

It is perhaps due to Champdore, in the absence of the details of
lis life, that we should give the Sonnet which Lescarbot wrote in
lis praise ; especially as it forms an offset to the envious criticism of
Hhamplain, who, as the geographer, found a rival in Champdore
lie navigator. Lescarbot, the witty lawyer, was evidently on the
)est of terms with the Pilot, and they doubtless enjoyed together good
dinners and merry evenings in Acadia, when Lescarbot feasted
■oyally, after the fashion of his brother of the Bar, Thomas Morton,
rf Merry Mount, wearing the Collar of the Order of the Bon Temps.
[n this Sonnet the Parisian Advocate bestows his praise with the
liberality that marked Champlain's blame ; and the neglect of re-
aowned characters of antiquity is somewhat explained by the devotion
exhibited to the overshadowing renown of Pierre Angibout.

' * See ante ; this fixes the date of Champdore's voyage. The Sonnet has been transferred
to the title-page.

This article was written some fifteen years ago, on finding that Parkman had over-
looked the expedition of 1608, which had also been overlooked by every author of whom
the writer had any knowledge. Subsequently, Dr. Slafter, in editing the Prince Society's
edition of Champlain's work, noted the fact that the voyage was made. It is time for
Jhampdore to have due recognition.

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